Bempflingen: Local History and Historic Buildings

For travelers who would like to combine an overnight stay with an interest in local history, Bempflingen offers several architectural and cultural traces that can be dated with some precision. A historical walking tour provides information about individual stops; a route flyer is also available to download. Local landmarks range from the first recorded mention of the name to churches, half-timbered buildings and industrial history. This makes it possible to explore the town’s history through different periods and themes.

Local History Across Different Periods

The first recorded mention of the name Bempflingen appears in the Bempflingen Treaty of 1090. Schlössle is a two-story half-timbered building dating from 1697, built on late medieval stone foundations. The Old Town Hall dates from the 17th century and is a half-timbered building; it is first mentioned in 1621. These dates refer to different points of reference: a mention of the name, the construction date of one building, and the first mention of another. This distinction makes it easier to place the landmarks in their historical context rather than assigning all the buildings to a single period.

Churches: Construction and Art

The churches reflect different historical periods. The lower section of the tower of the Evangelical Church of St. Stephen is dated to 1299; St. Peter’s was built in 1960/62 in a modern style. At St. Peter’s, the artistic features also shape the church’s appearance alongside its construction date: the stained-glass windows are by Wilhelm Geyer, and the tabernacle and crucifix are by Sieger Köder. This makes it possible to compare construction dates and artistic features separately: the tower section dated to the Middle Ages stands in contrast to the modern church with its specific artworks.

Half-Timbering and Industrial History

The press house was built in the 18th century as a half-timbered building in Baroque forms and later reused as a cider press. The main building of the Gebr. Elmer & Zweifel cotton spinning and weaving mill is recorded as having been built in 1854/55. The historic Bempflingen Mill was first mentioned in 1391 and rebuilt in 1659. These examples illustrate different aspects of local economic and architectural history: the press house is notable for its later use, the spinning and weaving mill for its construction date, and the mill for its early mention and reconstruction.

The medieval Erms Canal also runs through Bempflingen. It branches off from the Erms below Riederich and rejoins the river below the site of Gebr. Elmer & Zweifel. Thus, in addition to its buildings, the town’s history also includes a waterway described in detail.

Getting There and Cycling Route

The historic Bempflingen railway station was built in 1857/58 in the Neo-Renaissance style. The railway line connecting Plochingen, Metzingen and Reutlingen opened in 1859. Bempflingen has rail and B 312 connections toward Stuttgart and Reutlingen, as well as to the Swabian Alb. A wayfinding map is available for Bempflingen station, the platform and the surrounding area. A departure timetable is also available; check departure times before your journey.

The Bempflingen–Rohr cycling route passes through the Neckar Valley, the Aich Valley and the Siebenmühlental Valley and connects with the Museum Cycling Route. While the historical walking tour provides information about individual stops, the cycling route passes through several valleys. Check the route before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Plochingen, Erkenbrechtsweiler, Weilheim an der Teck, Esslingen, Wolfschlugen, Ohmden, Reichenbach an der Fils and Neuenhaus.

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